Sacrificing national interests at the altar of minority appeasement is the bane of Indian politics. The December 9, 2006 statement made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his address to the National Development Council that Muslims have first claim on national resources is highly objectionable. The fact that he retracted his statement saying he was misquoted does not help matters. To make tentative statements, testing the waters and retracting statements if there is an adverse fallout is an old trick that fools no one. Immediately after assuming office on 22 May 2004, this government has doggedly pursued a policy of minority appeasement.